12-15 October 1999

Place:Almelo, The Netherlands

Address:Theater Hotel
Schouwburgplein 1
PO Box 465
7600 AL Almelo
The Netherlands
Tel: + 31 (0) 546 – 810061
Fax: + 31 (0) 546 – 821665

Call for participation now closed

Subject: The study of organised behaviour using concepts and methods of semiotics

Objectives

bring together those interested in the theme to facilitate their future collaboration;
discuss future activities and possible institutional arrangements;
assemble materials to support the development of the subject;
publish the proceedings;
compile a CD-ROM of source materials to help in developing courses and research on organisational semiotics.

Convenors
Kecheng Liu (chair) – University of Staffordshire, GB
Peter Andersen – University of Aahus, DK
Rodney Clarke – University of Wollongong, AU
Jan Dietz – University of Delft, NL
Marc Hafkamp – University of Twente, NL
Ronald Stamper – University of Twente, NL
Joaquim Filipe - Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Portugal
Anastasia Pagnoni Holt - Università di Milano, Italy
Robert A. Stegwee - University of Twente, NL
Yasser Ades - University of Greenwich, GB
Jens Allwood - University of Goeteborg, Sweden
Mikael Lind - University of Borås, Sweden
Owen Eriksson - Dalarna University, Sweden
Michael heng - Free University, NL
Claude Vogel - Semio Corporation, San Mateo, CA
(*This list is not complete.)

Organisational Semiotics

Other expressions, such as "Computer Semiotics", "Organisational Engineering" or "Language Action Approach to IS" and so on identify similar areas of study, but the choice of terminology to characterise this important domain is not an issue. The common purpose is to treat organisations and their IT applications within a unified and scientific framework, with particular reference to the huge range of issues that elude the institutionally established disciplines.

Computer science does not concern itself with the human issues. The social study of IT impacts does not address the fine details of how information functions within and between organisations. The analysis and design of information systems develops methods for solving the practical problems preceding software engineering but offers no scientific foundation for them.

Those disciplines are not appropriate for addressing many of the problems caused by the rapid growth of global communications with its effects on business, government, the economy and politics. A semiotic perspective can accommodate the individual and the social, the human and the technical, intra-firm and inter-firm interactions, at a level of detail that opens up the prospect for scientific theory building. Can a semiotics of organised behaviour provide the necessary insight?

Please inform colleagues of this web site who may be interested.